Improved pessary



- UNITED, STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

EMELINE T. BRIGHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IM PROVED PESSARY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 71,692, dated December 3, 1867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMELINE' T. BRIGHAM, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, Penusylvania, have invented a new and Improved Pessary or Support for the Uterus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a pessary or support to be used as a support and covering to the mouth and neck of the uterus in cases of female weakness, falling of the womb, and other affections of the same; and the invention consists in combining with a pessary, which may be made of india-rubber or any other suitable material, of the proper shape, a coiled, spiral, or other suitable-shaped springsupport, of a length s'uiiicient to pass through and out of the mouth of the vagina, where, at its outer end, itis secured to the person by straps or other suitable fastening or holding means or devices.

The object of the spring-support is to hold the pessary against and about the mouth and neck of the uterus, and thus to support the same, the spring shape causing it to produce an elastic support thereto, and one most comfortable and easy to the wearer. p

In the accompanying plate oi drawings my improved pessary and support to the uterus is illustrated, the gure being a central vertical section through the pessary and its supporting attachment.

A in the drawings represents a pes'sary made of india-rubber or any other suitable material, and of the proper shape to fit about and around the neck and mouth ofthe uterus; B, a coiled or spiral spring, made in the form of a cone from end to end. This spring, at its larger end, is secured to the pessary, and at its smaller end terminates in a straight wire or cord, C, of suitable length .to pass and extend out through the mouth of the vagina, Where, at such end, it is provided with a ring, D, to receive one or more straps for fastening the same to the person.

By means of the coiled spring, when the pessary is worn, it is not only held in its position against the mouth and neck of the uterus, thus acting as a support thereto, but, as the said support is made of a spring form, an elastic, yielding, and pliant support, as it were, is given to the uterus, whereby the pessary,

.When worn, is rendered not only exceedingly comfortable and easy to the person, but can the more perfectly and readily adjust itself to whatever position the person may at any time occupy in walking, sitting, or riding.

The spring-support, in lieu of being made of a coiled or spiral shape, may be made of other forms, and its attachment to the pessary may be such as to render it susceptible of ready attachment and detachment therefrom, for replacing it with a new one when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The pessary A, conical spiral spring B, with wire C, having ring D, constructed and arranged to operate as and for the purpose specified.

EMELINE T. BBIGHAM.

Witnesses ALBERT W. BROWN, WM. F. MCNAMARA. 

